The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday began collection on carbonated and sweetened drinks as contained in the Finance Act 2020. It has taken off across the country and expect to yield revenue for the government by the end of June 2022.
The Comptroller of the Lagos Industrial Command of the NCS, IQ Ogbudu, She disclosed this when the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise visited the Command on oversight. She said the policy which also forms part of the Customs and Excise Management Act amendment bill. Which currently awaiting Presidential asset took off on June 1, 2022.
Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Rep. Leke Abejide urged the management of the NCS to find way of automating its system. And also linking it with that of the companies. This is to ensure that they pay as the actual excise duty that the companies should pay and when due. He also said the Service must not rely on the automation by the companies to value their duties. As that could be subject to manipulation, leading to loss of revenue by the government.
Abejide said the e-customs being planned by the government was going to lead to full automation of the operations of the Customs service. And also enhance its efficiency in revenue generation.
He also assured that the Committee, working with its counterpart in the Senate and the Office of the Comptroller General of Customs. They was looking into petitions on issues of promotion and none promotion of officers of the service.
-Thenation.